Imagine going back to your first day of school as a first grader. You are so excited to make new friends and have fun with them. However, once you get to school, you get made fun of and teased due to your clothes or because of your weight: but you couldn’t tell your parents as you were afraid and did not know how to express yourself. How would you feel? How would you try and stop the bullies? Bullying is a huge problem many children go through that occurs at a global level. According to stopbullying.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance” that “1 in 3 U.S. students have said they have been bullied in school” yet “only about 20 to 30% who are bullied notify adults about the bullying”. It is clear that stopping bullying is a hard task and can be more complicated that it seems.
One way that bullying can be stopped or help to stop it is to spread awareness, whether it be through media or education. Awareness and lessons taught on bullying should start off at a young age such as a preschooler reading books that cover bullying. However, some believe that children should not be exposed to books that discuss bullying at such a young age. Although, others may say or believe that preschoolers should not be introduced to books that cover bullying, preschoolers should be introduced to books that cover bullying because it spreads awareness and how to handle bullying if affected personally or through witnessing it, which is important because bullying is a worldwide problem that must be taken more seriously in order to end it.
Those against children being introduced to books that cover bullying argue that exposure at such a young age can be problematic. Those against believe that books that cover bullying are problematic as they think that understanding such concepts takes “sophisticated reasoning ability, which young children do not possess(McBee). They believe that preschoolers are not yet able to understand what they are being read and that other concrete material should be taught to them such as math, reading, writing, etc. They choose to just avoid the topic of bullying and brush it aside, hoping to come back to it at a later time in which the child will be more understanding and mature. They believe that by not covering bullying in children’s books, it is protecting their child from the terrible evil and keeping their innocence.
Another reason that people believe that bullying should not be introduced in children’s books is because it can make a young child think that they identify with that identity. According to bullyingnoway.gov, “the labels of ‘bully’ or ‘victim’ can cause further harm if a child accepts them as part of their social identity”. People use this argument to further support their reasoning stated before of preschoolers not being able to understand or reason sophisticated material as it shows how a child could misunderstand what is being taught or read to them; taking it for them being a bully or a victim which could cause distress and mental health problems at a young age.
Although, those who disagree with exposing preschoolers to bullying made some valid points which could raise concerns and further their argument as to why preschoolers should not be read books on bullying, these are short sighted as books can be made kid-friendly and read in a safe environment substituting sensitive words or topics with more positive aspects. It can also help drastically if there is great communication between the child and parent. The topics are going to be discussed at one point in the child’s life which is why it is better to discuss such a sensitive topic at a young age in a safe area. Allowing the introduction of bullying in children’s books helps to spread awareness to preschoolers.
Bullying should be covered in children’s book as it spreads awareness to preschoolers about bullying. Children’s books that discuss bullying spread awareness to those that read, as it lets the children know at a young age that bullying is a problem in society and that it is not okay. Spreading awareness to preschoolers and children at a young age prepares them for a worldwide issue which is very complicated and cannot be fixed easily. Preschoolers need to be introduced as they need to know that bullying is not just something done in person but can also be done “on social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook” through “computers, telephones, and other digital platforms” (PRWeb Newswire).
Reading books about bullying at a young age can benefit children as it can be a teaching moment for them about how there are two sides to an argument and that people should always respect one another no matter their side. As Perri Klass, a pediatrician says, “you can discuss the books themselves, and the information they provide, and you can also talk about why people might find them troubling”. So not only do the books spread awareness about bullying but it gives an opportunity for parents to explain the issue and why it is not ok, along with both sides of the argument. It also raises awareness by letting preschoolers know the dangers of those affected by bullying and what can happen, of course in a kid-friendly way.
According to a study done by Yale University, “Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims”. This alarming statistic is why children’s book covering bullying should be read to preschoolers as it lets them know that bullying causes mental issues that could lead to suicide. Not only does it lead to suicide but it “increases the risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school” (Center for Disease Control). This shows how there are many effects of bullying that children should know about. The books can spread awareness by letting children know that there are consequences of bullying and that it is not okay and should be stopped. Preschooler who read books that cover bullying will be much more sensitive and aware of how they treat others and will be think beforehand as they will know the consequences of bullying.
Preschoolers should be introduced to children’s books that cover bullying as it teaches them how to handle bullying whether they are affected, or they witness it. A lot of times children do not know what to do when they are bullied or see someone getting bullied. As stated by americanspcc.org, “70.6% of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools”. This shows how more than likely, children will witness bullying at one point in their lives. However, they may not report it as “only about 20 to 30% who are bullied notify adults about the bullying” (stopbullying.org) or stop it even though “When bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the time” (americanspcc.org). This shows how children do not know what to do in the event of being bullied or witnessing it even though they have the chance to stop it; which is why the books can help to teach children how to handle being bullied or witnessing it.
The books can tell children that it is okay to tell adults that you are getting bullied or someone else is. Not only can the books boost the child’s trust in being able to rely on adults to stop bullying it can also give proof of how adults can be depended on to stop it. According to Politi Elini, when a prevention and intervention program had been placed in Bergen, they saw a “50%” drop in “bullying incidents” and that “the positive school climate was risen drastically”. This shows how the programs placed by adults worked and how children can rely on adults to stop bullying incidents when they are reported or seen. This important fact can be put into books to convince children to tell adults when they are being bullied or witness it. Also, as parents read the books to children, they can explain what the book is saying and how they should react in the event of being bullied or witnessing it.
A lot of times children do not tell adults about bullying because they do not know have a great understanding of bullying and what classifies as bullying. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a clinical psychologist who specializes with children, says that children often rationalize to excuse bad behavior; which is why they might not know the difference between bullying and not bullying. This is why children’s books would be great as they would teach children at a young age, the distinct characteristics of bullying and what to do in that case. It can teach children to tell and adult and seek help from school officials in order to put an end to them being bullied or seeing it happen around school. If children are taught at a young age and make it into habit, it can really go a long way and make a difference in years to come.
Bullying has really become a major problem in society today that needs to end. Enough is enough, there should not be children committing suicide or having mental and physical health issues. There needs to be actions done to put an end to bullying. For bullying to put stopped, it needs to be stopped at a young age which is why books covering bullying should be introduced to preschoolers. Although others might think that it will be too complicated for young children to understand and as it might lead them to identify with the bully or victim due to misunderstanding, that view is shortsighted. Children’s books that cover bullying can spread awareness to the children and their parents and can also teach young children on how to handle being bullied or witnessing it.
Children’s books are meant to educate and teach children so why shouldn’t they have a topic like bullying. They will do more good for the children rather than any negatives that the book can do the child. They are important to society as bullying is a worldwide issue which affects many and needs to find a solution to. They will open up eyes around the world on the severity of bullying and how it should not be handled lightly or looked over. Think about all the positive effects that children’s books covering bullying can do for the children and the world. Why not live in a better society where bullying is no longer a part of? Many more children’s lives and health can be saved if children’s books are allowed to cover bullying in them. Children are the future of the world which is why we must do everything we can to protect and nurture them into being better versions of themselves.
